HVAC systems must undergo air balancing to ensure optimum performance and comfort. Even the most efficiently design HVAC systems cannot operate at optimum levels without proper air balance.  

Key benefits of having a system balanced:

• The system is optimized and consumes less energy

• The equipment and system components are inspected, performance is measured, and flow distribution as intended is achieved.

• Any variations from design in installation and performance are addressed, corrected or noted.

• The building comfort is improved

HVAC hydronic systems must undergo water balancing to achieve optimum performance. Uncontrolled flow rates can result in fluctuating temperatures and pressures. The balancing is based on the design flow values required by the Mechanical Engineer for the project.

Key benefits of having a system balanced:

• The building comfort is improved

• The system is optimized and consumesless energy

• Maximizes the life expectancy of HVAC equipment

A system audit (air flow or water flow measurements) or an existing system survey is a set of measurements used to determine the ventilation rates or hydronic system's performance and recommend steps in improving performance.

Key benefits for having a Systems Audit done:

• When ongoing issues become more complex, a system audit is required to collect information in solving these issues.

• A system audit can also help building owners or mechanical consultants to get a snap shot of the HVAC system's performance.

• For example: periodically, in healthcare facilities, it's required to determine the number of air changes. The air changes rates are compared to ASHRAE Standards or CSA Guidelines.

Duct leakage testing is a way to ensure that ducts have been installed and sealed properly. The air tightness of duct work is useful when trying to improve energy conservation.

Duct leakage testing is used in buildings that have a forced air delivery system for heating and cooling.

Key benefits of having duct leakage test done:

• Improve indoor air quality (leaky returns can pull air from uncontrolled spaces resulting in humidity problems or contaminants entering indoor air)

• The system is optimized and consumes less energy

• Reduce potential noise issues

Enviro Balance Inc. is often asked to investigate HVAC issue and make suggestions to improve the existing system’s performance.

We are frequently engaged in troubleshooting hydronic systems for their lack of water flow, air handling units not operating at capacity, pressurization fans not maintaining a healthy environment.    

A major issue with today’s construction projects is clearing the deficiencies, especially at the tail end of a project. The design engineering firm is limited on what they can test in the field, and the mechanical contractor is frustrated knowing that they installed everything as specified, yet things are not working as intended.

This is where an experienced air and water balancing firm can help troubleshoot and move the project forward.

Enviro Balance offers verifications for pressure sensitive area such as hospitals and laboratories to ensure comfort, safety and optimum operation. In our testing, we establish total air changes (ACH) per room and required pressurization between rooms, hallway and adjacent spaces.

If areas tested do not meet the requirements, we will thoroughly investigate all possible solutions and provide a report to include suggested steps to rectify the issues.

Enviro Balance Inc. conducts air balancing for Smoke Control Systems (SCS) in relation to fire safety systems to ensure they are working as intended. The objective of SCS is to provide occupants of the condominium buildings with a smoke-free and safe passageway when evacuating the building.

Smoke Control Systems not only need to be designed and installed correctly but they also need to be maintained.

• We will review any changes or replacement of SCS equipment.

• Make record of environmental conditions: interior/exterior temperature, wind speed/direction etc.

• Conduct point-to-point verifications of pressurization fans, fire dampers, smoke fire dampers, mechanical control dampers or relief dampers.

• Conduct balancing of fans speeds to obtain design airflow and differential pressures.

• Conduct pressure differential between stairwell and and floor corridors testing with all doors in stairwell closed; test maximum door opening force and adjust if necessary.

• Conduct pressure differential between stairwell and floor corridor testing with ground level doors opened; test maximum door opening force and adjust if necessary.

• Use calibrated instruments to complete the tests.

Enviro Balance Inc. provides air balancing and system fine-tuning related to stack effect.

We are often asked to address issues related to odours migrating into residential units. The difficulty of maintaining a proper ventilation system is mainly due to stack effect. Stack effect is unavoidable and increases with building height and as temperature differences between inside and outside air increase. This contributes to greater pressure difference between elevator shafts, stairwell and exhaust risers.

Getting the HVAC systems properly air balanced can be challenging but not impossible. It requires experience with the riser systems in addition to specialized instrumentation and fine tuning the HVAC system. 

We measure the amount of outside air introduced into the building and ensure compliance with LEED v4.1 air quality testing requirements. 

The concentration of gases such as Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Ozone, Total VOCs (TVOCs), and particle count, will all be checked as part of the assessment. 

Tests for mould, asbestos, and specific pollutants, can all be completed based on site requirements.  

This requires us to pressurize a room and locate the leakage points to help the client or builder seal the room to the standards they want to achieve. 

Audits are completed to assist with system troubleshooting or to comply with OSHA requirements.

•  Domestic Water Consumption Verification: This work involves using calibrated instrumentation to verify the domestic water consumption for commercial or high-rise residential buildings. 

• Domestic Hot Water Consumption: Similarly, this requires determining the consumption of domestic hot water for a building as to assist with sizing new equipment. 

• Water Flow Rate Consumption Audit: For hydronic heating or cooling systems